August Giveaway: She Makes It Look Easy

"I want what she has." How many of us have said that? I sure know that I don’t have it all together. Trying to be a full-time mom, housekeeper, wife, and freelancer usually explodes in my face. My house is a mess. My toddler watches too much TV. My baby doesn’t get as many baths as he should. The laundry is piled everywhere. There are ants dancing in the kitchen.

Marybeth Whalen’s second and newest book, She Makes It Look Easy, deals with this very topic. Here’s the blurb from the publisher, David C. Cook:

Ariel Baxter has moved into the neighborhood of her dreams — and the chaos of raising three children moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable. Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that "perfection" isn’t always what it seems to be.

I haven’t read this book yet, but it was featured by the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, so I was able to read several reviews. From what I read, it’s a heart-piercing novel that is both fiction and true to life. It may be a smack in the face … or just the assurance you need that no one has it all together, really.

Would you like to win a copy of Whalen’s novel? We have TEN autographed copies to give away, courtesy of David C. Cook. To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling us what the best book you’ve read recently was. (If it’s Green Eggs and Ham, that’s OK too!) — Jessie

Winners will be selected at random September 1, 2011. USA only. LifeWay employees are not eligible to win.

Comments

I love to read. It is such a joy. The last book I read was by Francine Rivers. It is “Her Mother’s Hope.” I could not put that book down. It was really good. I am now currently reading the sequel, “Her Daughter’s Hope.”

I am currently reading 4 books. They are: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shell Silverstien because my 5 year old requests it every night, my guilty pleasure reading is Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner, Sacred Stories of Ordinary Families by Diana Garland and One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. They are all great!

Well for me its reading more than 13 books before my son goes to bed & that’s if he goes to bed! LOL! The las t book I read to him last night was Nosy Barker by Stuart Trotter. This morning I read a Clifford The Big Red Dog book. I am reading The Bride Wore White by Dannad Gresh. It’s about about teaching young girls what God says about sex. I would so love a new book to read.

Ooh, it’s hard to pick a “best book” of the recently read ones… I’ve read so many good ones! Mary DeMuth’s “You Can Raise Courageous and Confident Kids” is a really good one.
Thanks for this kind opportunity!

Thank you for the opportunity to win Marybeth’s latest. I thoroughly enjoyed The Mailbox last summer. I don’t think I can pinpoint one great book… 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp is up there. I usually give away my great reads but am holding onto her’s to reread again & again.

Oh, how I can relate! My husband and I are house hunting and about to move with two children and the third on the way. I’m already feeling overwhelmed and a sense of “lost identity” in the middle of this chaotic season. The last book I’ve read is Crazylove by Chan.